Transferring device



06L, 3, 1944. w, MCNAMARA 2,359,432

TRANSFERRING DEVICE -Filed Dec. 7, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet l ni-11x? -IIIIHHI INVENT 7/21/14! Lfir/Vamara Oct. 3, 1944. w. 1. M NAMARA TRANSFERRINGDEVICE Filed Dec. '7, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR [JIM/1111 .4441

ATTO RNE Oct. 3, 1944. w; MCNAMARA 2,359,432

TRANSFERRING DEV ICE Filed Dec. '7, '1940 7 Sheets-Sheet s k BY 'H IMATT NEY 3, 1944- w. L M NAMARA TRANSFERRING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1940 7Sheets-Sheet 4 m M\ R a Y m M M wk m MM w 4 w. L. M NAMARA 2,359,432

TRANSFERRING DEVICE Filed Deb. 7, 1940 1 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTQH Ufiih9 w. L. M NAMARA TRANSFERRING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 6l f f i JL/U INVENTOR Miizm Z. Wafiamara Oct. 3, 1944. w. L. McNAMARATRANSFERRING DEVICE Filed bee. 7, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet '2' I INVENTORfiZZza/fl 1% Patented Oct. 3, 1944 TRANSFERRING DEVICE William L.McNamara, Lancaster, Ohio, assignor to Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation,Lancaster, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application December 7, 1940,Serial No. 368,977

24 Claims.

The present invention relates to transferring devices and moreparticularly to devices for transferring glassware and the like.

A number of devices have been devised for transferring various types ofarticles, including glassware, and patents have been granted therefor.The present invention provides a comparatively simple device whichperforms its work effectively and'which is adapted to be applicable to amuch larger variety of ware than existing devices and is also adaptedfor a greater variety of service requirements. For example, in, theglass industry a forming machine may be operating one day to producetumblers which may be delivered to ordinary conveyor belts leading toannealing leers. The next order may be for fancy drinking glasses whichhave to be fire finished or which may have to be cracked off and firefinished. In such instances the size and shape of the ware and the typesof machinery for forming and transferring the ware may differ widely.The speed of the glass forming machine and the speed of the finishingmachine may differ. Their heights from the floor may vary. The moldsfrom which the ware is removed and the holders to which the ware isdelivered may be quite different.

The present invention aims to provide a simple transfer device which maybe quickly changed to work with various types of machines and to handlethe various types of were molded thereby. The invention also aims toprovide a transfer device which is effective under the various operatingconditions and with the various types of ware encountered.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine forhandling glass ware and other articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved transferdevice applicable to various types of glassware and to the various typesof machinery used in the manufacture thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means forcontrolling the move- -ment of the ware engaging device at the time ofengagement and release of the ware.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved devices fortransferring ware utilizing suction holding means.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings,forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan view,partly schematic, with the vertical lifting devices broken awayillustrating the transfer device removing ware from a conveyor andplacing it on a finishing machine;

Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c are vertical sectional views of the machineillustrating the various parts,.

the sections being shown on three sheets in order to have the partssufliciently large for illustrative purposes;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2b;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2c;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 55 of Fig. 2c;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2!) illustratingthe operation of the cam for controlling the movement of the vesselengaging means;

Fig. '7 is a top' plan view of a modification illustrating the inventionapplied to the removal of ashtrays from a molding machine to a conveyor;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 through the vesselengaging means shown in Fig. '1; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another form of vessel engaging andholding device.

Described generally and referring particularly to Fig. 1, there is showna conveyor l on which containers 2 are delivered to a preferredembodiment of the present transfer device 4 which engages the containersby means of the article engaging devices 5 and which transfers them in asubstantially horizontal plane to any suitable support or machine 6. Themachine 6 is not shown in detail, but it may be any type of machine orconveyor, for example, a rotating table with a series of holders forpresenting the articles to finishing devices. Other devices are providedfor inverting the article holders 5 and also for bending the supportingarms therefor in order to facilitate varying the speed of movement ofthe article holders so that their movement corresponds to the movementof the support or machine from which the containers are removed or towhich they are delivered. In certain into in the above generaldescription will now be described in detail. The supporting structurefor the transferring device is shown more particularly in Figs. 2a, 2band 2c and may comprise a base casting l4 having suitable lugs I5 whichmay be bolted to a floor or other supporting foundation. A verticalcolumn I8 is bolted to the upper open end of the casting l4 and extendsupwardly in the form of an externally threaded cylinder ll whichsupports the entire upper part of the machine. A casting l9 has an uppersupporting table 22 and a hollow cylindrical part extending downwardlytherefrom and telescoped about the externally threaded cylinder ll, asshown in Figs. 2b and 2c, and is secured to the threaded supportingcylinder i1 through the intermediation of a hand wheel 20 threaded tothe supporting cylinder l1. By rotation of the hand wheel 20, thecylindrical part of the outer casting l9 and the entire upper part ofthe machine is raised or lowered as desired. The outer casting is iskeyed at 2| to the inner cylinder H to prevent relative rotationtherebetween. Bearings 24 and 25 are mounted internally of the cylinderII at the upper and lower ends thereof, respectively. These bearingssupport a rotatable shaft 26 which is mounted at its lower end in thebal1 bearing support 2? in the base of the casting l4. The parts of themachine to be rotated are operatively connected to this vertical shaftThe main drive for the transfer machine is shown in Figs. 2c, 4 and 5and may comprise a driven shaft 28 which is mounted in. ball bearings 29and which has a worm gear 30 thereon meshing with gear 3|. The shaft 28is preferably connected at its end 33 with one of the main machines sothat it will be synchronized therewith. The gear 32 has clutch engagingjaws 34 on its upper central portion. For the purpose of connecting thegear 3! to drive the shaft 2% there is mounted on the shaft 26 a sleeve35 free to slide up and down on the shaft but prevented from rotation*with respect thereto by members or ridges thereon which fit intogrooves 38 in the shaft. When the sleeve 35 is moved downwardly untilthe clutch jaws 31 engage the clutch jaws 34, the shaft 26 iscontinuously driven by the worm 30 on drive shaft 25. For convenience inraising and lowering the sleeve 85 which acts as a clutch, there isprovided a handle 38 (Fig. 4) which has a resiliently retained pin 39fitting into a socket 40 to hold it in desired position. By pullingoutwardly the end of the handle 38, the pin 39 may be removed from itssocket 40 so that the handle may be raised or lowered to operate theclutch sleeve 35. This operation is obtained by reason of the fact thatthe handle or crank 38 is keyed to a shaft ii mounted in suitablebearings and having arms 32 with the bifurcated end thereof inengagement with the pins 44 mounted on the sleeve 35.

The drive mechanism is also adapted to drive shaft 26 intermittently,that is to say, with stop worm Si.

and start movement. To accomplish this, the clutch handle 38 is movedupwardly into the po sition shown in Fig. 2c of. the drawings where agear 46 on the clutch sleeve 35 meshes with a gear 41 ongshaft 48 asshown in Figs. 2c and 4. Shaft 48 has a second gear 49 thereon mountedbelow the gear 41 and meshing with a gear 50 keyed to shaft 5|. Belowthe gear 50 on shaft 5| is one part of a Geneva drive (Figs. 2c and 5)which meshes with a Geneva drive member 54 keyed to shaft 55. Gear 56also keyed to shaft meshes with gear 32 bolted to gear 3! which isdriven by the worm gear 30 on drive shaft 28. As the Geneva drive 54rotates, the Geneva member 52 is rotated one-sixth of a revolution.Depending on the size of the gears, this may drive the vertical shaft 26any desired part of a revolution through gear 50, gear 49, shaft 45,gear 41 and gear 46 on clutch sleeve 35 (Fig. 4). At the completion ofthe partial revolution. the shaft 26 will be stopped for a predeterminedperiod. Thus it will be seen that the clutch may be utilized to changean intermittent operation to a continuous operation and vice versa.

The turret i8 and its associated parts, shown more particularly in Figs.2b and 3, will now be described. The supporting table 22 at the upperend of the telescoping cylindrical casting is has a ball bearing 5'! forrotatably supporting the turret l8, which is connected to the verticalshaft 26 by means of a cylindrical sleeve 58 (Figs. 2a and 2b) keyedthereto at 59 and having a gear 60 (Fig. Zn) on its upper end meshingwith a The worm 6! i rigidly connected to the casting 62 which is a partof the turret and hence directly connects the turret'to the rotatingvertical shaft 26 for the rotation thereof. The worm 6| permits theturret to be adjusted with respect to the shaft 26 so that theengagement of the holders with the articles to be transferred may beaccurately timed. The turret l8 carries a series of arms 64 here shownas four in number although any desired number may be utilized. The armshave article engaging devices or holders 5 bolted or otherwise securedto their outer ends which in the preferred embodiment are operated bysuction to hold the containers or other articles in place thereon.Likewise, the arms 64 are adapted to be bent as shown in Fig. l, andalso to be rotated to invert the holders 5 when desired. The severalparts for performing these operations will now be described. A hollowshaft or member 65 extends outwardly from the turret l8 and connects atits inner end with a conduit 68 leading to a control valve 61 whichconnects with vacuum to subject the article holder 5 to a vacuum toengage and hold an article and then to atmosphere to break the vacuumand release the article. Each shaft 65 is mounted at its inner end in abearing 53 and at its outer end in a bearing 68 retained in a housing 63so that it may rotate about its longitudinal axis. A hinge construction65 is bolted to the end of the hollow shaft or member 65. The hingeconnection comprises a part 10 fixed to the hollow shaft 65 by bolts "Hand having a conduit 12 passing theret ough. The hinge part 70 has aroller bearing 4 bolted to its upper portion and has a recess 15 in itslowor portion for receiving a roller bearing 16. A cooperating hing partor holder 19 has a recess 77 at its upper portion for receiving theroller bearing 14 and has a similar roller bearing 16 bolted to itslower end. The hinge parts 70 and 79 are pivotally connected by theroller assaasa bearings 14 and 16, the part NJ being fixed to the turretand the part 19 being hinged thereto. The part 79 has a conduit 80 whichconnects with the conduit of the hollow arm 64 and which extends overand meets with the vertical portion of the conduit 12 of the part N). Awasher or other means 8| forms a substantially airtight connectionsurrounding the conduits in the two hinge parts. Thus the part 19 may berotated about the bearings l4 without impairing the vacuum connection tothe holders ii. The hollow arm 64, having a suitable holder at its outerend, is secured to the pivoted hinge part it by bolts 82. The holder 5may be of any desired form, but as shown in Fig. 1, it is substantiallyU-shaped at its outer end with vacuum apertures, preferably six or eightin number, at the upper and lower parts of the U. When the holder 5engages a container 2 moving on conveyor I, the container will be forcedagainst the bottom of the U, which is substantially the same shape asthe container, by an asbestos rope 84 or similar member which may bestretched diagonally across the conveyor and secured at its -ends tosupports 85 and the vacuum effective through apertures in the holder 5will retain the container 2 thereon.

For the purpose of swinging an arm E i and its holder 5 about the hingeconnection described above, there is provided a stub shaft 56 secured toa member 81 bolted to a part 83 of the turret IS. A crank 88 isrotatably mounted on the stub shaft 86 and has cam rollers 89 secured tothe free end thereof. A second crank M is tele scoped over the end ofthe first crank 3% on stub shaft 86 and has a bearing at at its free andsupporting a pin 92. The pin 92 fits into a recess of a U-shaped yokemember MS and the yoke member in turn fits into an annular groove M inthe pivoted hinge part W. The two cranks 88 and 90 on the stub shaft 86are interconnected by means of interlocking projections Q5 adjustablypositioned with respect to each other by means of a set screw B8. Thecam rollers til engage a, cam 91 mounted on a supporting member 93secured to the cylindrical part of the casting IS. A collar 99 held inposition by set screw till? retains the member 93 against accidentaldownward movement while set screw 98 permits rotary adjustment of thecam for proper operation of the arms. The details of the cam fi'i areshown more particularly in 6. It may be made in any desired manner, butas here shown there is a cam hub llll comprising a central portion iii-iwhich extends about the vertical'casting it and carries spaced upper andlower flange portions I23 and E33 adapted to receive between them camsections or parts 402 and Hill which make up the cam 91 illustrated inFig, 2b. The shape of the cam formed by the cam sections )2 and may beadjusted by means of bolts Hi l which pass through slots 505 in thelower flange portion I33. Thus the arm M may be bent at any desiredpoint and returned to straight position at. any other point. The camsections it? and H33 may be readily assembled with the cam hub billwithout dismantling any other parts of the machine. Other cam sectionshaving difierent profiles than those illustrated may also be easilysubstituted in desired instances. It will be understood of course thatany other desred manner -of making the cam or providing for adjustmentmay be utilized to give the proper movement to the cam rollers 89 andarm 64.

For the purpose of rotating the holders ii to invert them and thearticles held thereby during movement from one position to another,there is provided a gear I08 on a sleeve it? fixed to the hollow shaft.55. The gear 506 meshes with a sectional rack W8 bolted to thesupporting table 22 of the casting l9 by bolts H19. Thus the racl: tiltmay be located to rotate the shaft the arm 5d, and holder 5 during theperiod after the article is engaged and before it is released. Theholder may be returned to its upright position by a second similar gearrack after an article is released and before a second article isengaged. A smooth track 93 intermediate the rack sections Hi8 ispreferably utilized to guide a flat portion on the sleeve Hill toprevent accidental rotation of the arms at points other than the gearracks. The groove 84 in the pivoted hinge member it permits the hingeand its associated parts to be rotated by reason of the fact that thegroove is annular. Further the yoke i565 and pin 92 prevent the arm 64from swinging about its hinge under the influence of the Weight of theholder 5 and arm 6d while it is being rotated In other words, the groovefi l, yolre 56 and pin $32 prevent the arm M from dropphig while beingturned over. The cam roller Elli Wl'llfil' operates the hinge arm isheld against cam W by means of spring I l i. attached at one end to apin H0 extending from the support for the cam rollers and attached atits other end to a pin 4 52 attached to the part ill of the turret(Figs. 2b and 6). The crank 98 which carries the armopera inq pin $2 ispreferably held against an adjusting set screw on the arm 88% by meansof a spring H 8 (Fig. 6).

Referring more particularly to Figs. 20:. 2b and 3, there is a suctionconnection Hi rotatably secured to a member iiii threaded into the upperend of the machine and having attached thereto the vacuum connection(lit by mean of the nut Ht. A suitable vacuum or suction pump (notshown) may be attached to the connection in any suitable manner. Thevacuum conduit extends down vertically through the casting i555. whichmay be bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the vertical casting I8.and about the vertical shaft i through conduit ill (Fig. 2b) to thevalves H8. Each of the valves lit-i has a member lid rotatable about avertical axis with a star wheel i263 operatively connected to the lowerend thereof. The star wheel, a it rotates about the machine on theturret it, engages pins or rollers ilil bolted to the stationary tabled2 of the machine, whereupon the pin rotates the star wheel.

preferably a quarter of a turn. The pins i226 may be secured in slots sothat their positions can be adjusted to change the time at which thevacuum is made eifective and the tme which it is made i rilci'iectiv andthe conduit opened to at- The valves Mil may have four posithe positionshown in Fig. 2b the con dult it? leading from the vacuum pun'ln isconnested by chamber L2 to conduit ti; which leads to the hollow shaft65, to conduits it! and Bil in the hinge connection and thence to thehollow arm Ml leading to the suction holders 25. When the star wheelillii engages a second roller, it is rotated from the position shown inFig. 2b. The chamber of the valve is then removed from alignment withthe conduits as and ill. Thus, the conduit ill is closed by the rotationof the valve and the conduit 66 is open to atmosphere through the valveport l2d. When the valve is rotated a third time, the chamber i223corresponding to connects the conduits '56 and it] and sub ects theholders to a vacuum. When rotated a fourth time, the conduit H1 and theconduit 66 is connected to atmosphere through the port I24. Thus thevacuum holders 5 are connected alternately to a source of suction and toatmosphere at predetermined points. It will be noted in the preferredmbodiment shown in Fig. 3 that each valve is operatively connected tothe holder immediately in front of it.

The machine thus 'far described may be used for transferring articlesWithout the use of the parts about to be described, and is particularlyuseful where the machine, from which the were or articles are removed,positions the war so that it can be engaged and held by the vacuum arm.For example, many glass machines raise the ware out of the molds, inwhich case the ware is in a position where it can be readily engaged bythe holders 5 and can be transferred to a suitable support by them. Incertain cases, however, the ware or article may be within a holder sothat it has to be raised to be removed from the holder. In otherinstances it is necessary to lower the ware to a support or conveyor orinto a holder after it has been transferred. In such instances it isdesirable that the transfer device be capable of functioning properlywith such machinery,

The present invention provides a mechanism, shown moreparticularly' inFig. 2a, which will raise the articles out of a mold or other holder andposition them so that they may be engaged by the holders 5. Themechanism will also engage the articles and lower them to a support ormachine at the delivery station. In the preferred embodiment of themechanism shown in Fig. 2a a sleev I26 is mounted over the upper end 62of the column and is flanged at its lower end to support a ball bearingI23, a ball bearing I21 spaced from the lower ball bearing by a sleeveI43 and held in position by a nut I28 threaded to the upper end of thesleeve I26. A supporting arm I20 has an integral collar I30 which fitsabout the ball bearings I23 and I21 and also about the upper end of thecollar. A suitable collar I3I is bolted about the lower part of thecollar I30 to extend under the ball bearings and the sleeve I26 andcarries an appropriate sealing means I36 adapted to prevent lubricantfor the ball bearings from escaping and running down the casing 62. Asecond supporting arm I 32, having an integral collar I34 at its upperend, is adapted to fit over the upper end of the column and to besecured to the collar I30 of supporting arm I29 by means of bolts I35.The collar I30 may have sufilcient apertures therein so that therelative position of the arms I28 and I32 may be adjusted with respectto each other. Th purposes of these arms are to support lifting andlowering devices.

As shown in Fig. 2a a bracket I31 may extend upwardly from th end of thearm I29 and have bolted thereto a plate I38 to which is secured an aircylinder I39. The air cylinder preferably has a piston I40 therein withsuitable piston rings I to secure a tight fit. A threaded aperture I42is provided at the lower end of the cylinder for the attachment of anair pressure supply which provides air for raising the piston. A similarattachment may be provided at the upper end for lowering the piston, butgenerally gravity is sufflcient for this purpose. The piston rod I 44 ispreferably hollow with an attachment at its upper end I45 for a vacuumconnection. At the lower end of the piston rod I44 (Fig. 2b) a vacuumholder I46 is mounted having vacuum apertures I41. The holder I46 may beof any suitable me.-

terial but as here shown the vessel eng in parts are preferably made ofcast iron or aluminum. The ball member I48 threaded to the end of thepiston rod forms in effect a ball and socket joint which permits theholder I46 to adjust itself to fit fiat on the were to be engaged. Theupward movement of the piston may 'be limited by a bracket I40 mountedat the upper end of plate I38. The lower movement of the piston islimited by the engagement of the holderl with the article to be raised.Thus the holder I46 may be lowered to engage an article, which will beheld thereon by vacuum supplied through the connection I45, and may beraised by pressure admitted at the lower end of the cylinder toalign thearticle in the same horizontal plane with the holders 6 so that theholders in their rotary movement will pick up the article and transferit. The vacuum to the raising means may be relieved at the time theholders 5 engage the articles.

The arm I32 may have a lowering device which corresponds to the liftingdevice on the arm I26. Since the same type of cylinder and operatingmechanism may be used either for raising or lowering articles, adetailed description of the device on the arm I32 is not necessary, asthe pressure can be timed to lower an article as well as to raise it. Inoperating the lowering and raising mechanisms with the holder 5, thehinge structures may be operated to change the-speed of movement of theholders at the time they engage articles on the vertical lift to obtainoptimum results. The ball bearings I23 and I 21 are for the purpose ofpermitting. the upper end of the column to rotate without affecting theposition of the arms I29 and I32 which may be secured to stationarysupports.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, a modified form of hingeconstruction and a different type of vacuum holder are shown fortransferring articles such as ashtrays and the like. The hinge I54 isshown offset to one side of the transfer arm instead of at itsmid-portion and an adjustable set screw I55 is provided adjacent theside of the transfer arm opposite to the hinge. An arm may be swungrearwardly after depositing an article and, upon being moved back intooperative position, a portion thereof comes into contact with'the headof set screw I55. The set screw I55 may be screwed in or out of its seatto provide accurate adjustment of an article holder with respect to anarticle which is to be picked up and transferred. The offset hinge andset screw features may, of course, be utilized with the embodiment shownin Fig. 1 of the drawings. The holder 5' illustrated in Fig. '1 ispreferably L-shaped with vaccum apertures I50 adapted to engage thesides of the tray 2. As viewed in section in Fig. 8 the portion of the Lengaging the ashtray is shaped substantially to fit the underedge of theashtray 2'. Thus when the arm engages the ashtray, the latter will beheld firmly in position by means of the suction apertures I50. It willbe noted that in changing from one type of article to another, it ismerely necessary to change the holder which is applied to the turret I8. This can be removed and replaced very rapidly by means of the bolts82 (Fig. 2b). The device in Fig. 7 is shown removing an article from aglass machine 6' and placing it .on a conveyor. The suction becomeseffective upon engagement with the article on the glass machine andbecomes ineffective upon delivery of the ar-' moves faster than theconveyor. Hence Just after depositing the article on theconveyor, thearm is generally moved backward about the arm hinge as shown in dottedlines so that it will swing clear of the article without changing thespeed of either the turret or the conveyor.

A further type of holder is shown in Fig. 9 which is primarily adaptedfor large jars, such as a fish bowl and the like. The holder may bebolted to the usual arms on the turret b means of the bolts 82 (Fig.21)) extending through slots II in the upper extending part I52 of theholder 5". The shape of the holder is substantially circular so that itwill fit under the bowl or other article and hold it in position. Such aholder can be used with suction apertures but it is found that suchapertures are not required in all cases and the present modification isto illustrate the application of the invention to holders withoutsuction devices. In the use of the modified device, the source ofsuction is merely shut off and the machine operated in the same manneras with suction devices.

In the operation of the machine, the transfer mechanism 4 is positionedadjacent a machine from which ware is to be removed or onto which wareis to be placed. A conveyor either delivers articles to the transferdevice or takes them away from it. As shown in Fig. 1, the transferringdevice is mounted intermediate the two machines, or intermediate theconveyor and the machine with which it cooperates. The transfer deviceis preferably connected to one of the machines with which it is workingso that it will move synchronously therewith. This may be accomplishedby a connection to shaft 28 (Figs. 4 and 5). Thereafter the clutch 38 isoperated so that the transfer machine moves either continuously orintermittently depending upon the types of the machine with which it isoperating. The height of the transier mechanism, that is the transferarms, may be raised or lowered by turning the hand wheel 20 (Fig. 20)about the casting l'l which raises and lowers the casting it teiescopedthereabout and the table 22 integral with the upper end thereof. Suchadjustment in height may require a corresponding adjustment with respectto the cam 91 for operating the swinging arms. The latter may beaccomplished by the adjustment of the collar 95 and the support 83 forthe cam by means of bolts ltil and t3, respectively.

Thereafter the cam Ql is adjusted so that the arms 64 swing at the rightpoint and at the right speed to cause the holders 5 to be moving atsub-- stantially the same speed as the articles at the time the articlesare engaged or. disengaged. The

operation of the drive for the transfer machine rotates shaft 28 whichis operatively connected to the turret I8 by means of sleeve 58 keyed tothe shaft 26 and in turn connected through a worm gear 6| to the outercasting of the column 82 which in turn is connected to the turret it.Thus the entire column above the casting 119 rotates with the turret. Asa holder 5 engages a container 2 on a conveyor (Fig. 1), the asbestosrow 84 directs the container against the holder to securely fix itwithin the holder. The vacuum valve I8 (Fig. 2b) is then operated by apin iii and a star wheel I20 to connect the vacuum conduits II'I and 66,whereby vacuum from the vacuum connection H4 at the top of the column iseffective upon a holder 5 through the hollow column, conduit III leadingto the valve H8, cham-- ber I22 or I25 of the valve, conduit 66, hollowarm or sleeve 65. conduits I2 and an and the hollow arm 64. The vacuumbecomes effective on the article and holds it in position on the holdervIn some cases it may be desired to invert the article, for example, atumbler is ordinarily delivered from a forming machine in u rightposition, but in passing through a leer there is more stability ifplaced therein in inverted position Hence it may be desirable to invertthe article during the transfer thereof. If so, a rack I08 is bolted inposition to engage gear I06 (Fig. 2b) so that the gear I06 passes overthe rack as the turret is rotated and the gear is turned to invert theholder. On its return movement the gear I06 may be turned again to bringthe holder 5 into its upright position. If it is not necessary to invertthe article, the rack I08 is removed. If the turret and the holder forthe container being delivered is moving at a speed differing from thatof theholders on the turret, it may be desirable to bring the two to thesame speed during the engagement or delivery of the articles. This maybe done by adjusting the cam 91 which operates the roller 89 which inturn operates the pin 92 and yoke I56 to move the arm 65 about the hingejoint 74 without disturbing the vacuum connection. Thus the speed of theholders 5 may be changed without stopping or changing the speed of theturret I8. In this manner jars or other articles may be placed on amachine or a holder which is moving at a speed differing from the speedof the turret. Likewise the arms may be bent backwardly as shown in Fig.7 to swing clear of an article which has been placed on a stationarysupport or slow moving conveyor without requiring the turret to bestopped. When the arm reaches the support where the article is to bedelivered, a pin I2I rotates the star wheel I20 of a valve H9 ninetydegrees whereupon the conduit 66 is connected to the atmosphere port I24oi the valve which breaks the vacuum.

With certain machines it is desirable or necessary that the transferdevice raise or lower the articles being transferred at the time oftheir engagement or delivery. The devices shown in Figs. 2a, and 2bcomprise a lifting mechanism for raising or lowering the articles. Inthe operation ofv the lifting devices, air is removed from the lower endof the cylinder I39 to permit the piston rod I44 to drop by gravityuntil its lower vacuum head Ml engages the article to be raised;whereupon vacuum becomes effective to hold the article. Then air underpressure is applied to the lower end of the cylinder at the inlet I42 toraise the piston I48 and the piston rod I44 to a desired positiondetermined by the position of the bracket 8 which engages the upper endof the piston rod whereupon the container is in position to be picked upby horizontally moving holders 5'. The vacuum in the suction head is Ithen released and the article is left on the holder to be transferred toa suitable machine or conveyor.

A similar mechanism may be used for lowering the articles at theirdelivery point. Such a device may be mounted on the arm I32. Thesupporting arms I32 and I28 for the lifting mechanisms are mounted onthe upper end of the rotating column. Since it is desired that the armsbe stationary they are mounted on roller bearings lllil and 52'! toavoid any interference with the rotation of the column The upper vacuumconnection lid is likewise rotataloly mounted on the upper end of thecolumn to avoid interferenc e with the rotation thereof.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a transfer mechanismwhich has many advantages over present types. The mechanism may beapplied to machines which operate at different rates of speed and, atthe same time, may be synchronized with both machines to engage andremove articles from one and to place them on the other. Where themachines form the articles and leave them in molds, the transfermechanism is adapted automatically to lift the articles from the moldsso that they clear the molds and are engaged by the transfer arms.Likewise where intermittent or continuous movement of the transfermechanism is desired, it can be had merely by the operation of a clutchprovided therefor. The machine has a wide range of uses not possessed byother machines. At the same time it is simple in construction andinexpensive to operate. Since sources of pressure and vacuum are readilyavailable in most glass factories for which the present machine isparticularly designed, the machine does not require auxiliary mechanismsnot readily available.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination of aturret, a holder pivotally mounted on said turret, a vacuum conduitextending through said holder, and through the pivot therefor a hollowtransfer arm having a suction operated vessel supporting device thereon,said vacuum conduit and said hollow arm forming a suction connection forsaid suction device, a cam, means engaging said cam and operativelyconnected to said holder, to swing said holder during the rotation ofsaid turret responsively to the shape of said cam without impairing thesuction connection.

2. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination of aturret, a transfer arm mounted on said turret having a suction operatedvessel engaging means at the outer end thereof adapted to engage avessel moving on a conveyor, a conveyor for moving the vessel, andresilient means extending diagonally across the conveyor to force thevessels moving on the conveyor against said suction head.

3. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination of aturret, a conveyor 4. In a transferring device of the class described,the combination of a turret, a conveyor adjacent said turret, a suctionoperated article engaging means pivotally mounted on said turret, saidsuction engaging means being substantiaiiy J-shaped, means for rotatingsaid turret and the engaging means thereon to bring said suction holderinto engagement with an article moving on said conveyor, means to swingsaid engaging means about its pivot to change the speed of movement ofsaid engaging means with- 15 out varying the speed of movement of theturret, and a flexible cord extending diagonally across the conveyor toforce said article firmly into the holder.

5. In a unitary transferring device, a frame, an article engagingsuction head supported by said frame adapted to engage the upper end ofan article and raise it, a plurality Of article engaging means supportedby said frame and adapted to remove the articles suspended successivelyfrom said suction head and to transfer the articles in a substantiallyhorizontal plane to a machine or conveyor.

6. In a unitary transferring device, the combination of a supportingcolumn, an article engaging means supported by said column and adaptedto engage the upper end of the article and raise the article from themold of a glass machine. a second article engaging means supported bysaid column and adapted to engage and remove the article from said firstengaging means and transfer it in a substantially horizontal direction,and a third article engaging means similar to said first articleengaging means supported by said column and adapted to engage the upperend of the article and remove the article from said second engagingmeans and to lower said article vertically to a conveyor or support.

7. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination of aturret, an article transfer arm mounted on the turret to transferglassware from one position to another, continuously operated drivingmeans for said turret, a Geneva drive operatively connected to saidcontinuously operated driving means and devices for operativelyconnecting said turret directly to said continuous drive and forconnecting said turret thereto through said Geneva drive.

8. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination of aturret, an article transferring arm mounted on said turret, a shaft forrotating said turret to swing said transferring arm into engagement witharticles to be transferred, a Geneva drive, and means for operativelyconnecting either said Geneva drive or said continuous drive to saidshaft, said means being ineffective to connect both drives to said shaftsimultaneously.

9. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination ofan operating means having a hollow member adapted to rotate about acenter and extending outwardly therefrom, means for subjecting saidhollow member to a partial vacuum, a hollow arm having a suction deviceat one end thereof for engaging an article, and means for pivotallyconnecting the other end of said arm to said hollow member, saidpivoting means forming a substantially airtight connection between theconduits of said hollow arm and said hollow member to permit the arm toswing about the axis of the pivot without disturbing the vacuumconnection to the means for subjecting the hollow arm to a partialvacuum, the axis of the pivot being substantially perpen- :iicuiar tothe axis of the hollow arm.

10. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination ofan operating means having a hollow member rotating about a center andextending outwardly therefrom, means for subjecting said ho low memberto a partial vacuum, a hollow arm having a suction device at one endthereof for engaging an article. means for pivotally connecting theother end of said arm to said hollow member, said pivoting means forminga substantially airtight connection between the conduits of said hollowarm and said hollow member to permit the arm to swing about the axis ofthe pivot without disturbing the vacuum connection to the means forcreating a partial vacuum, the axis of the pivot-being substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of the arm, and means for moving said armabout said pivot to change the speed of movement of said suction devicewithout changing the rate of movement of said operating means,

11, In a transferring device of the class described, the combination ofan operating means having a plurality of hollow members rotating about acenter and extending outwardly therefrom, means for subjecting saidhollow members i to a partial vacuum, a plurality of hollow arms havingsuction devices at one end thereof for engaging articles, means forpivotally connecting the-other ends of said hollow arms to said hollowmembers, said pivoting means forming substantially airtight connectionsbetween the conduits of said hollow arms and said hollow members topermit the arms to swing about the axes of the pivots without disturbingthe vacuum connections to the means for creating a partial vacuum, theaxes of the pivots being substantially perpendicular to the axes of thearms, and means for moving said arms about said pivots to change thespeed of movement of said suction devices without changing the rate ofmovement of said operating means.

12. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination ofa rotating turret, a hollow member on said rotating turret extendingoutwardly from the center thereof, means for subjecting said hollowmember to suction, a hollow arm having a suction device at one endthereof for engaging and supporting an article and a pair of bearingshaving their axes extending transversely with respect to the axis ofsaid member, one of said bearings being operatively connected to saidarm and the other of said bearings being operatively connected to saidhollow memher to pivotally connect said hollow member to said arm and toform a substantially airtight connection therebetween,

13. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination ofan operating means having a hollow member rotating about a center, meansfor subjecting said hollow member to suction, a hollow arm having asuction device at one end thereof for engaging an article, a pair ofmembers secured to said hollow member and to said arm having conduitstherein registering with the conduits in said hollow member and in saidarm, said pair of members being rotatable with respect to each otherabout an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of said arm.

14. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination ofrotary operating means having a hollowmember rotating with it andextending outwardly therefrom, means for subjecting said hollow memberto suction, a hollow arm having a suction device at one end thereof forengaging and supporting an article,

'and a pair of members with bearings therein operatively connected tosaid hollow member and to said arm, said pair of members having conduitsfor registering respectively with the conduit of said hollow member andthe conduit of said arm, the junction of said conduits in said pair ofmembers having a sliding surface permitting said pair of members torotate with respect to each other on said bearings and thereby hingesaid arm and said hollow member together without impairing the suctionconduit leading to said suction device.

15. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination ofrotary operating means having a hollow member rotating with it andextending outwardly therefrom, means for subjecting said hollow memberto suction, a hol low arm having a suction device at one end thereof forengaging an article, a pair of members with bearings therein operativelyconnected to said hollow member and to said arm, said pair of membershaving conduits which register respectively with the conduit of saidhollow member and the conduit of said arm, the junction of said conduitsin said pair of members having a sliding surface permitting said pair ofmembers to rotate with respect to each other and thereby hinge said armand said hollow member together without impairing the suction conduitleading to said suction device, said pair of members having an annularguideway, a yoke adapted to engage in said annular guideway, and meansfor turning said. yoke to swing said arm with respect to said hollowmember.

16. In a transferring device of the class siescribed, the combination ofa. rotary mechanism having a hollow member, bearings for supporting saidhollow member and permitting it to rotate about its longitudinal axis, ahollow arm having a suction device at one end thereof adapted to engageand support a glass vessel, means including a pair of bearings having anaxis extending transversely with respect to the axis of said arm forpivotally connecting said member and said arm and operatively connectingthe conduits therein, means for rotating said member about itslongitudinal axis, and means for swinging said arm about the axis ofsaid bearings, said rotating means and swinging means being operativeconsecutively.

17. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination ofoperating means having a hollow member, a hollow arm pivotally andhermetically connected to said hollow member and having a suction holderat one end thereof, the axis of the pivot being substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of the arm, means for subjecting said suctionholder to a vacuum through the intermediation of said hollow member andhollow arm, and means for moving said arm about the axis of said pivotto change the speed of movement of said suction holder without changingthe speed of movement of said operating means and without impairing thesuction connection.

18. In a transferring device, the combination in a unitary structure ofa frame, an arm connected to said frame and extending laterallytherefrom, an air cylinder supported by said arm having a piston andpiston rod associated therewith, a suction head on said piston rod forengaging the upper end of a glass vessel and for raising it out of themold of a glass machine when said piston is raised, a plurality ofvessel engaging means supported by said frame and adapted to engage andsupport successively the vessels suspended periodically in mid air fromI said suction head and to transfer the vessel in a substantiallyhorizontal plane to a machine or a conveyer.

19. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination'ina unitary structure of a vertical column, an arm extending laterallyfrom said column, a pneumatic cylinder sup-- ported by said arm and asuction head for engaging and supporting a vessel operatively eonnectedto be raised and lowered by said pneumatic cylinder thereby to raise avessel out of the mold of a glass machine, a turret mounted to rotate inone direction about said column and a plurality of arms on said turrethaving means thereon for engaging the raised vessel suspended in mid airby said raising means and transferring the vessel laterally to asupport.

20. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination ofa supporting column, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said column tobe adjusted in position thereabout, a pneumatic cylinder on each of saidarms, vessel engaging and supporting means adapted to engage the upperend of a vessel and operatively connected to be raised and lowered byeach of said cylinders, and transfer means for engaging a vessel raised.and suspended by one of said vessel engaging means and delivering it tothe other of said vessel engaging means to be engaged and loweredthereby.

21. A device in accordance with claim 20, in which the vessel engagingmeans have suction heads to support the vessels by suction.

22. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination ofa turret, a shaft for rotating said turret, an article transfer devicemounted on said turret to transfer glassware from one position toanother, continuously oper-- ating drive means, a Geneva driveoperatively connected to said drive means, and a sleeve keyed to saidturret shaft and slidable thereon for connecting said turret shaftselectively to said continuously operating drive directly and to saidcontinuously operating drive through said Geneva drive, thereby to drivesaid turret continuously or intermittently.

23. In a transferring device of the class described, the combination ofa turret, a shaft for rotating said turret, an article transfer armmounted on the turret to transfer glassware from one position toanother, a continuously operating drive gear, a Geneva drive operativelyconnected to said drive gear, and a gear keyed to said turret shaft andslidable thereon adapted to move into operative relation selectivelywith said Geneva drive and with said continuously operating drive gear.

24. In a transferring device of the class described, a supporting base,a turret mounted on said base, a shaft for rotating said turretextending upwardly through said base, an article transfer device mountedon the turret having a plurality of arms for supporting and transferringglassware from one position to another, a continuously operating drivegear, a Geneva drive mounted in said base and operatively connected tosaid drive gear and devices in said base for operatively and selectivelyconnecting said turret shaft to said continuous drive means through saidGeneva drive and to said drive means directly.

WILLIAM L. MCNAMARA.

